New Delhi: In a significant development, the Defence Ministry has granted approval for a proposal to procure nine maritime surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy and six maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard.

 According to sources within the defence establishment as quoted by ANI, the 15 maritime patrol planes are slated to be constructed with Airbus's C-295 aircraft acting as the basic fuselage, where the various subcomponents shall be embedded. Tata and Airbus have an MoU signed under which the two companies are building the C295 military transport aircraft FAL in Vadodara, Gujarat. Tata will produce 40 of these under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The sources also stated that the total value of the approved projects is estimated to be around Rs 29,000 crore, marking a substantial investment in bolstering India's maritime capabilities.